1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:01,319 Speaker 1: Okada Radio. 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 2: Hey Loka Motes, I'm Diosa and you're listening to Loka 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 2: to Radio. Mala and I are not in the same 4 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 2: city this week, so we are not able to sit 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 2: down and record together, but we did want to put 6 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 2: an episode out because we know that the revelation of 7 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 2: Sessata Chavs's abuse over the decades is groundbreaking and is 8 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: causing a lot of conversation in our communities at the 9 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 2: local and national level. So in this episode you will 10 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: hear from Mala and I separately. We will produce a 11 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 2: full length episode at a later time. Here's Mala. 12 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: Today, March eighteenth, the New York Times released an investigative 13 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: report which found that Caesar Chavez, civil rights leader and 14 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 1: co founder of the United farm Workers, groomed and sexually 15 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: abused girls. Co founder of the United farm Workers, the 16 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: Loris Fuerta, came forward to share her own story of 17 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 1: set abuse by Caesar Chavez. In this episode, we're discussing 18 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: the Times investigation, their findings, and how the Latino Latine 19 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: community is responding. Please press pause and take a break 20 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: if you need to. So this is how the investigation 21 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: was conducted. Manny Fernandez, the California editor at large for 22 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: The Times, and Sarah Urthis, an investigative reporter, worked on 23 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: this investigation for five years after they received a tip 24 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: about Caesar Chaves's past. The findings are based on interviews 25 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: with more than sixty people. These people include his top 26 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: aides at the time, his relatives, and former members of 27 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: the UfW, the United farm Workers, which he co founded 28 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: with Miss Wuerta and Gilbert Badia. The Times reviewed hundreds 29 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: of pages of union records, confidential emails, and photographs, as 30 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: well as hours of audio recordings from UfW boorn meetings. 31 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: Anna Morguya decided to come forward more than fifty years 32 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: later after she learned a street near her home in 33 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: Bakersfield was in the process of being renamed for Caesar Chavez. 34 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 1: Anna Morguya's father was a Union official and aide to 35 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: Caesar Chavez. Anna shares the details of her abuse with 36 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: The Times, when it started and how she struggled from 37 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: the trauma afterwards. She told The Times quote, girls were 38 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: abused by family members, by people close to the family, 39 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: and it was always kept quiet and if anyone found out, 40 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,359 Speaker 1: she said, the question was never about the man. It 41 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: was always well, what did you do? See what you did? 42 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: This is something we've touched upon on LOCATORA Radio in 43 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: past episodes. This is called victim blaming, in which a 44 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: survivor of assault or abuse comes forward talks about what 45 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 1: happened to them. Instead of questioning the actions or motivations 46 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: of the alleged perpetrator, the people that the survivor disclosed 47 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: their trauma to immediately assumes that the survivor in question 48 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: did something wrong, did something to provoke, to encourage the attack. 49 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 1: It's a way of blaming people, especially women, especially children, 50 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: for the violence that is enacted upon them by people 51 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: in a position of power. In this case, it sounds 52 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: like young girls that were close to UfW leaders and 53 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: the Chavis family who were abused came forward for help 54 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 1: to disclose instances of abuse or grooming and were met 55 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: with victim blaming. It sounds like what Anna Muria is 56 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: describing is victim blaming from the Chavis family and leadership 57 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: at the UfW towards survivors of assault and abuse at 58 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: the time. Another survivor, Debra Rojas, who is also a 59 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: daughter of longtime organizers who marched beside Caesar Chavez says 60 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: she was abused from nineteen seventy two to nineteen seventy seven. 61 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: Abuse began when she was twelve years old. The nationwide 62 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 1: response as we approach March thirty first, which is Caesar 63 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: Chravis's birthday and a federally commemorated holiday, has been stark. 64 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: The nationwide response has been immediate, and marches to honor 65 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: mister Chavez were called off canceled in Austin, Texas, Tucson, Arizona, 66 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: and elsewhere. Officials in multiple states said they would consider 67 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: renaming the scores of streets and schools named in his honor. 68 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: Caesar Chavez is a recurring and enduring figure in mural art. 69 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: In Los Angeles. Many streets are named after Caesar Chavez, 70 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: including in Boyle Heights. There are parks named after Caesar 71 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:02,359 Speaker 1: Chavez memorials throughout the state, a especially in agricultural towns 72 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: and centers. And I wonder if, with Dolores Wedtha's statement 73 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: about her own experiences of abuse and assault at the 74 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 1: hands of Caesar Chavez, I wonder if any streets, parks, 75 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: memorials named after Caesar Chavez might now be named for 76 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:21,720 Speaker 1: the Lotus Wertha. 77 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 2: In addition to The New York Times releasing their investigation 78 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: the Lotus, Werreda also wrote an open letter published by 79 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 2: The Times where she shares her story for the first time. 80 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 2: She shares that nearly sixty years ago, Sesada Chavez sexually 81 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 2: assaulted her. She writes, as a young mother in the 82 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 2: nineteen sixties, I experienced two separate sexual encounters with Sesad. 83 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 2: The first time, I was manipulated and pressured into having 84 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 2: sex with him, and I didn't feel like I could 85 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 2: say no because he was someone that I admired, my 86 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 2: boss and the leader of the movement. I had already 87 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: devoted years of my life to the second time, I 88 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: was forced against my will and in an environment where 89 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 2: I felt trapped. The statement is familiar to many of 90 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 2: us who have felt the pressure and manipulation by someone 91 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 2: close to us, someone who we trust, someone who we 92 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: may admire, and feel that we cannot say no. In 93 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 2: this letter, she also shares that she carried the secret 94 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 2: for a long time because she felt it would harm 95 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: the labor movement, that it would harm the movement which 96 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 2: was securing rights for farm workers. She also shares that 97 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 2: this farm worker movement has always been bigger and far 98 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 2: more important than any one individual. In this letter, she 99 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 2: also shares that she has kept this secret long enough 100 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 2: and her silence ends here. I want to acknowledge the 101 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,120 Speaker 2: type of victim blaming that Mala referred to, but I 102 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 2: have also been seeing online and one that survivors always 103 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:09,239 Speaker 2: expect to hear. Why did you wait so long? Why now? 104 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: Instead of questioning the society and culture that does not 105 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: allow survivors to speak up. Since this news broke, the 106 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 2: United farm Workers issued a statement saying that the organization 107 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 2: would not take part in any activity celebrating mister Travis's 108 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 2: birthday on March thirty first. They said that the troubling 109 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 2: allegations that were surfacing were incompatible with the organization's values 110 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 2: and that it did not have firsthand knowledge of any misconduct. 111 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 2: They also said that they quote need some time to 112 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 2: get this right, including to ensure robust, trauma informed services 113 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 2: are available to those who may need it end quote. 114 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 2: I have been seeing so many quick responses and questions 115 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 2: about changing the buildings, the street signs, the parks. The 116 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 2: bear says that chaves his name, and rightfully so. It 117 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 2: is a great question. Will these buildings be renamed and 118 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 2: what will they be renamed too. It is a good 119 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 2: opportunity to remember to center what the survivors want and 120 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 2: need to get community input. This should be survivor and 121 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 2: community driven. There are a lot of people who may 122 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 2: come forward, especially politicians, who will be supporting these types 123 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 2: of changes because they're politicians and it is good. But 124 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,119 Speaker 2: it's a good thing for us to remember that community 125 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 2: and survivors need to be at the center of this 126 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,839 Speaker 2: conversation and all of this needs to be trauma informed. 127 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: I also want to acknowledge that The Times reported on 128 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 2: a type of community knowledge knowing about Sessa of Travis's 129 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 2: actions and abuse. According to this report, internal emails dating 130 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 2: back over a decade show union members discussing Anna muria 131 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 2: As claims of abuse and the impact it had on 132 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: her life. According to The Times, one of Anna Murria's 133 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 2: relatives confronted mister Chaves while he was still alive in 134 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 2: the nineteen eighties. According to this relative, mister Chavez offered 135 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 2: no defense and responded only by clearing his throat. The 136 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 2: Times also reported that more than ten years ago, members 137 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 2: of a private Facebook group for long time Chavez organizers 138 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 2: and supporters were stunned to read a post by the 139 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 2: other survivor, Debora Rojas, who came forward in the New 140 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 2: York Times Peace. As the organizers prepared to celebrate the 141 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 2: holiday in his name, Deborah has posted quote, wake up people, 142 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 2: this man you march for every year molested me. End quote. 143 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 2: Deborah ro has deleted the message days after posting it, 144 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 2: and was accused by some who saw it or heard 145 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 2: about it of jeopardizing all that had been accomplished, not 146 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,719 Speaker 2: only by mister Chavez, but her parents and those they 147 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 2: marched alongside. This is another example of how silence is encouraged. 148 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 2: This is what rape culture is. This is what it does. 149 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 2: This is the type of silence that permeates, especially in 150 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 2: our communities. This tradition of silence ends here. With the 151 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 2: survivors going on record over twenty four hours since the 152 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 2: New York Times investigation piece went live. I'm seeing, of course, 153 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 2: the chatter online. And while my digital circle is predominantly women, 154 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 2: queer folks who believe survivors, that is a type of 155 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 2: videos and content and posts that I've been seeing. However, 156 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 2: I know that other types of responses and content exist 157 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 2: that's full of victim blaming. That's questioning the validity of 158 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 2: this investigative piece. That's clear the people commenting have not 159 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 2: even read it, and I want to remind us to 160 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 2: actually read the investigation. The investigation was done by Manifit 161 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 2: and this and Sarah Urtas, and if you read the article, 162 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 2: they detail extensively how they did this research. They received 163 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 2: a tip in twenty twenty one, five years ago about 164 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 2: Cessata Chavis's abuse. They spent the last five years investigating. 165 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 2: They interviewed more than sixty people. They have fact checkers, 166 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 2: they have a legal team. This is a vetted story. 167 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 2: And while it definitely may hurt for some that this 168 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 2: canonized heroic figure is being exposed for who he really was, 169 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 2: keep in mind that it has been well documented that 170 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:40,719 Speaker 2: Sesata Chavis was anti immigrant and anti undocumented labor. This 171 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 2: has been common knowledge for many of us for years, 172 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:48,199 Speaker 2: which is why we have questioned his legacy and even 173 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 2: critiqued his heroic stature in our community. This may be 174 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 2: shocking for some, but it's also important to believe survivors, 175 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 2: to believe the women, men and young girls who come 176 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 2: forward the first time, and to not minimize their experiences, 177 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 2: to not question the validity of their stories to not 178 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,960 Speaker 2: shame them. Girls and women should never be sacrificed for 179 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 2: the quote good of the community, for the good of 180 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 2: the movement. We know time and time again there are 181 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 2: clear examples just like this one that this continuously happens. 182 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 2: While this is not an extensive episode here and look 183 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 2: at Radio, we did want to put something on the 184 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 2: feed this week to connect with you, our listener, because 185 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 2: we know that this is important. Because we know that 186 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 2: this is a historical moment and many in our community 187 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 2: are unpacking it and feeling it and posting about it 188 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,839 Speaker 2: in real time. It's a reminder that we still have 189 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 2: to challenge this culture that encourages silence from girls and 190 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 2: women when they're abused, victimize, harmed. Many of us can 191 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 2: even look to our own families. Many of us can 192 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:11,959 Speaker 2: identify a predator, a perpetrator in our families that we're 193 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 2: still made to share space with, that we still maybe 194 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 2: even share a home with. This is not new to 195 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 2: our community. We know that this happens in our families, 196 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 2: in our neighborhood, in the community around us. I have 197 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 2: deep respect for Anna Murguilla, Dabrah Rojas and the Lotus 198 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:40,839 Speaker 2: Wuerta for coming forward and sharing their story, releasing their 199 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 2: truth to the world. May it change all of us, 200 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 2: maybe question the culture, society, our own families that allow 201 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 2: for this type of abuse to continue. I hope that 202 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 2: they're surrounded by love, by protection, by people who care 203 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 2: about them. I hope they feel peace now that their 204 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,839 Speaker 2: story is free, and that all of us collectively are 205 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 2: carrying some of it with us. We will produce a 206 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 2: full length episode at a later time, but for now, 207 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: I hope you're taking care. I hope you're getting offline, 208 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:18,839 Speaker 2: and I hope that you have the support that you need. 209 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 2: If this breaking news has you were visiting past traumas 210 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 2: and experiences, you are not alone. Your story matters, and 211 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 2: we believe survivors here. This is another of Lot Radio. 212 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 2: Thank you for tuning in.